Foreign Trade Zone

Northwest Iowa is now a foreign-trade zone. In November 2013, the six-county Northwest Iowa Economic Development organization received a grant of authority from the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This is only the fourth foreign-trade zone established in Iowa and the first in a rural area of the state.

Designation as a foreign-trade zone is expected to help attract investment and boost trade in our Region.

A foreign-trade zone is a designated location in the United States where companies can use special procedures that help encourage U.S. activity and value added – in competition with foreign alternatives – by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings.

Foreign Trade Zones benefit the public by:

facilitating and expediting international trade

providing special customs procedures as a public service to help firms conduct international trade-related operations in competition with foreign plants

encouraging and facilitating exports

helping attract offshore activity

encouraging retention of domestic activity

assisting state and local economic development efforts

helping create employment opportunities.

Foreign Trade Zones benefit the users by:

eliminating duties on re-exports

eliminating quota charges on re-exports

deferring customs duties and federal excise taxes

offering companies access to streamlined customs procedures

offering exemption of foreign goods and domestic goods from state and local inventory taxes

and other benefits

If you have questions about the Foreign Trade Zone designation or how your business can benefit, contact Dan Janssen (866) 384-2665 or janssendan708@gmail.com.